UPDATES 12.20.11

- SHIP Update (Meghann):
The first iteration of SHIP ended June 30, 2011. However, the legislature approved unspent funds to be appropriated back to the grantees in the same percentage that they had received in the first iteration. This created Bridging Period #1 (July-September).

SHIP 2.0 was funded by the legislature in July for $15 million. Part of this $15 million was used for Bridging Period #2 (October-December). During this time, a new RFP was sent out for January 2012-June 2013 funding. There were 29 applicants, and 18 funded parties. The Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis and Aitkin-Itasca-Koochiching Community Health Boards were a recipient of almost $1 million (of the ~$11 million available).

Unfortunately, I will not be continuing with School Nutrition and Active Living in Moose Lake. However, I (Meghann) will be beginning more directed efforts with Safe Routes to School in Moose Lake. In addition, I will be beginning School Nutrition, Safe Routes to School, and Community Active Living in Cloquet.

I will still be around as a resource person, and will be putting together a group/sub-group (with members from both the Active Living Coalition and the School Wellness Committee) for the Safe Routes to School effort. I will continue to forward on information for trainings, curriculum, etc. to the appropriate recipients!

- Lunchroom (Becky):
Edible landscape - We are still using the dried herbs in food we are preparing. Last week we added basil and oregano to our home made spaghetti sauce.

Kitchen equipment - We are using the blender to make smoothies for breakfast each month. Now that we've mastered the strawberry and banana flavor, we will try a blueberry, with frozen blueberries that we got from our government commodities.

With the addition of more salad bar containers and tongs we are able to provide more salad ingredients, which often change. Black beans, shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, sunflower seeds go along with our usual serving of chicken, turkey ham, cheese, romaine lettuce and whole wheat breadsticks. We often provide an extra salad to try such as cottage cheese, carrot salad, tuna or chicken salad, pineapple coleslaw, broccoli salad or wild rice salad.
The new salad bar provides extra refrigeration for the salad bar options and for milk.

Hydration station - The kids really like the hydration station and look forward to seeing what we have put inside for flavor. They are drinking a lot of water! Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, peaches, carrots, mixed frozen fruit or canned fruit, and mint are some of the things we have tried. It's a hassle for me to go and buy ice, and sometimes fruit, at the grocery store, just to keep things changing, but I'm going to buy ice cube trays so we can make our own ice now.

Taste testing - We've incorporated foods that we have taste tested in the past into our menu: pumpkin chili is served with our chili dogs, sweet potato fries, whole grain pizza, chicken wraps, bar b q turkey, Jamie Oliver's glazed carrots, meatballs. We did the farm to cafeteria promotion and the kids were able to taste different foods from that: zucchini, eggplant, and kohlrabi sticks, locally grown watermelon, green beans, green pepper, corn on the cob, squash and apples. Each month we've been adding a new dish to the menu and they have been well received. We've also been offering a healthier dessert. Apple and cherry cobbler, chocolate applesauce cake, raisin and oatmeal cookies, pumpkin bars and carrot cake.

Meal Magic - It provides the nutritional values of breakfast and lunch on the web site and the computer monitor in the lunch line. I'm starting analyze the different components of the meal to increase or reduce levels, such as sodium. I like the program and would like to continue with it another year so I can use all the technology it has to offer. It's hard to find the time to work with it, so things go slowly.

Nutrition nuggets - These go out at the end of the month with the school monthly calendar.

- Curriculum (update from Ann and Joe):
Joe has started using the curriculum and really enjoys how it is laid out. He said it is very comprehensive and is also laid out by standards, so he knows he is meeting them. He is finding it difficult to use the games purchased, only because of time, but thinks they are valuable.

Joe has been including the nutrition facts provided on the lunch menu on his board everyday and the students comment if it is not there. It has been valuable for the students in decision making, and also combining with their food journaling.

Elementary teachers will be using the health curriculum purchased for them in their own classrooms.

- Worm Composting (Trish):
The worms are eating and making ‘tea’ (or worm juice)! Meghann will send Trish more information on the plan for using the ‘tea’ as a fundraiser, in hopes of being able to re-start the healthy snack cart and fund it from the proceeds.

The plan is to ultimately create a worm composting system on a larger scale, combined with a recycling program in the lunchroom—Stowe Elementary is a great example.

The District Office ‘babysat’ the worms for the summer and enjoyed feeding and taking care of them—even without much instruction!

- Indoor Walking Signs (Tim):
The Indoor Walking Route Signs arrived, but have yet to be installed. Tim will talk to maintenance about that, and they will be up soon!

- Library Resources:
No update from Mary, however, Joe said he has used a few of the items and is working his way through the list of items that would be useful in his classroom.

- Webinar:
I was asked to speak on a national webinar through the Public Health Law Center (the people who helped us with policy language for the Health Snacks/Treats Policy, Wellness Policy, and Bicycling and Walking to School Policy). I was able to talk about all of the great things you have done!

Here is the link for the webinar, and I encourage you to watch it when you have time (it is about 1.5 hours). The information from the three presenters before me was great!
https://publichealthlawnetwork.webex.com/publichealthlawnetwork/lsr.php?AT=pb&SP=EC&rID=4488677&rKey=40cf1df1a5651291

Next Meeting: 12-8-11

The next meeting for the Moose Lake School Wellness Committee has been scheduled for Thursday, December 8, 2011 from 3:45-4:45pm in the board room at the school. It will be a planning meeting, so please plan to attend!

Please RSVP to meghann.condit@co.carlton.mn.us by Wednesday, December 7th, if you are able to attend. See you on the 8th!

SHIP Update and Kitchen Excitement!

SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Program) funding ended June 30, 2010. However, since there was unused funding left over from around the state at that time, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reallocated funding, in the same percentage as the original grant, to all participating Community Health Boards for a “Bridging Period”. This funding was strictly for finishing activities by making everything sustainable, and for final evaluation.

After the government shut-down, and new budget was formed, SHIP was included at a reduced amount for the next biennium, but still funded! MDH decided to create a second bridging period from October-December 2011. During this time, a grant application is to be formed (based on an RFP sent out by MDH), which, if awarded, would fund activities from January 2012-June 2013.

Northeast Minnesota will be applying for this funding, and should find out if they are awarded by December 2011. SHIP may look different, be in different communities, etc.—we do not know all of the details.

On a more exciting note, please note all of the wonderful things happening in the Kitchen at Moose Lake School!:

- Taste testing with the farm to cafeteria products-zucchini sticks, green pepper, cantaloupe, watermelon, green beans, diced tomatoes, shredded carrots, eggplant, squash, corn on the cob, and kohlrabi. 

- Nutrition nugget (newsletter) goes home with each student going

- New aprons for the cooks with the quote of the contest winner: "Real Rebels Cook"

- Making smoothies for breakfast with the new blender (a big hit!)

- Becky has picked from the herb garden this summer and fall and put them in the freezer.  So far, they have used the fresh parsley in our chicken noodle soup, the oregano in our spaghetti, the sage in our turkey gravy.

- The new salad bar has been set up, with many more options

Please watch for more information about the 1st School Wellness Committee meeting of the 2011-2012 school year!

New Edible Landscape!

Thank you to all who helped plant the edible landscape at Moose Lake School on Friday, June 10th, 17th, and Thursday, June 23rd! Here are some pictures:

Total planted:
1 pear tree
4 plum trees
15 apple trees (various varieties)
80 strawberry plants
10 blueberry plants
17 herbs (various varieties)

The produce will be used in the kitchen for breakfasts, lunches, smoothies, part of the hydration station, and possibly for elementary snacks (healthy snack cart). The herbs will also be used as seasoning in the kitchen. How exciting to introduce some fresh, and very locally grown produce to the school lunch!


On another note:
The SHIP Grant is coming to an end June 30, 2011. Activities with the Moose Lake School Wellness Committee will continue, so watch for more excitement. If you are interested in joining the wellness committee, please contact Tim Caroline, Superintendent, at 218-485-4435. Thanks you for all of your help throughout this grant--the school has accomplished SO MUCH!

Planting Edible Landscape!

The Moose Lake Wellness Committee secured funding for planting "edible landscape" at the school. This ties in to multiple areas of our work plan. The produce will be able to be used in areas such as the school lunch, classroom snacks, smoothies, and the hydration station. Not only is the landscape edible, but it also beautifies the school's property--dual purposes!

Please join us in building the two raised beds and planting the fruit trees and bushes!

-June 10 (9am-12/1pm): build raised beds

-June 17 (9am-4pm): plant bushes, trees, and herbs (complementary lunch, provided by the SHIP Grant, for the 17th)

Safe Routes to School Community Meeting

The Moose Lake Active Living Coalition and the Moose Lake School Wellness Committee are partnering with the Minnesota Department of Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, the State Safe Routes to School Network and local partners for a Safe routes to School (SRTS) planning workshop!

WHO: Parents, Teachers, Students, School Administration, City Public Works, City Planners, Community Members, etc.

WHAT: A meeting to develop expertise in SRTS planning, identify action steps for the next 12 months, and position Moose Lake to be competitive for funding to support SRTS (available June 2011!)

WHERE: Moose Lake School's Media Center

WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 from 4-7:30pm. Dinner is provided!

WHY: Last spring, the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission completed a SRTS Community Assessment. This assessment took feedback from parents, school administration, students, etc. about the walkability and bikeability to and from school, as well as the barriers. From the information and an 'on the ground assessment', they identified successes and barriers to walking and biking to school.

With this assessment completed, the school is in a very good position to receive grant money for the next round, which is scheduled for June 15th. At this point, this meeting will be the first of its kind in Moose Lake--besides the assessment, no prior work as been done with SRTS, so please come and help us with this great development opportunity!

RSVP by April 29th!

Ellen Pillsbury at 218.529.7554 or epillsbury@ardc.org

See you on the 3rd!

 

Next Mini-Grant Funding on the Way!

The School Wellness Committee applied for a grant through the larger Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant for the March 15th deadline. The following items were applied for:

--Worms for the worm bins
--Worm composting curriculum
--The Great Trays Training for Becky (Head Cook)
--Time for Becky to continue using Meal Magic (Food Nutrition Analysis Program)
--Library Resources (books and DVD's)

Make sure to look for these exciting items later this spring!

Also, for those interested, there will be a Safe Routes to School Webinar Training coming up in April. For a description of the webinar and to register, follow the link listed below.

Date: April 12, 2011
Time: 12-1pm
Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/948654561

Hummus Taste Test and Super Foods Lunch Day

The Moose Lake School Food Service Staff have been busy menu planning (using healthier options), and allowing students to participate in testing some of the new menu items. With the help of "Meal Magic" a nutrition analysis program, Becky Holt has been working to make each day's lunch meet the dietary requirements (as opposed to a weekly average). This is one of the main goals on the Wellness Committee's action plan, and great changes have been happening as part of this process!

On January 28, the Kitchen Staff conducted a hummus taste test for all students, K-12, as they entered the cafeteria for lunch. As with the previous taste test, Mrs. Rodysill's students assisted. The theme was to taste a healthy, unusual snack. A printed list of facts about hummus was also displayed in the hallway for students to read.

Some of the students helped to prepare the hummus by scooping it into 2oz souffle cups and added two to three mini carrots. Others handed out the cups to students who wanted to participate as they came by. Another student manned the garbage cans, one with a happy face if you liked the hummus, and another with a sad face, if you did not like the hummus. After each section of students was served, Kitchen Staff determined if the hummus was liked or not liked by observing how full each garbage can was.

The results were recorded and showed that the majority of the students liked the hummus, but it was a close call.

The next week the Kitchen Staff served a "Super Foods Lunch Day". The menu included the following:
- A super sub on whole grain bread with hummus, turkey, cheese, and spinach
- A sweet potato fries medley
- A blueberry magic dessert with slivered almonds

The students enjoyed the opportunity to try the different foods that will be integrated into the lunch menu to make it more healthy overall. Way to go Kitchen Staff!!

Mini-Grant and Next Meeting

Through the SHIP Grant, the Moose Lake School Wellness Committee has an available pot of money in which to augment its efforts. As of now, we have a good amount of funding that we can apply for through mini-grants. This money needs to be tied to projects that are directly linked to Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change.

We will be getting a check for a mini-grant soon which will help fund the following:
--New aprons for the Kitchen Staff
--"Worm Bins" for the two 5th Grade Classrooms (worm composting for use as a fundraiser)
--Monthly lunchroom taste testing
--Nutrition-related newsletters to be sent home with students

Sample Worm Bin

There are some great changes happening, and many GREAT ideas for how the rest of the funding should be used. If you have ideas about how to use these funds, please attend our next School Wellness Committee meeting on Thursday, February 17, from 3:45-4:45pm in the Board Room at the school.

November Taste-Testing

On November 23rd, the Kitchen Staff conducted a chili taste test for all students, K-12, as they entered the kitchen for lunch. Mrs. Rodysill's students assisted with the test. The goal was to guess the secret ingredient in the chili.

Some of the students helped to serve up the chili into four ounce souffle cups. Others handed out the chili to the students who wanted to participate as they came by. Another student wrote down some of the secret ingredient guesses, and another manned the garbage cans - one with a happy face if the student liked the chili, and the other with a sad face if the student did not like it.


Garbage Voting

After each section of students were served, the Kitchen Staff looked in the garbage cans to determine if the chili was liked by that group, or not, and recorded the results. The majority of all the students, K-12, did like the chili!

No one was able to guess the secret ingredient, which was revealed the next Monday with more nutrition information about orange vegetables. The whole event went smoothly and it was nice to see that the students were willing to try, and did like the chili!

Improvements by the Kitchen Staff!

Becky Holt, and the other Moose Lake School Food Service Staff have been busy working on improvements in the kitchen, and have made some great improvements toward more nutritious offerings for students!

The 3rd grade was offered the salad bar which went over very well with most of the students trying it out. The 3rd and 4th grade Teachers assisted in teaching the students the “how-to’s” of eating at the salad bar which was greatly appreciated.

For all grades, spinach and shredded carrots have been added to the romaine mix of lettuce (both spinach and romaine are the most nutrient-dense in the lettuce group). Also, everyday, cottage cheese, cucumber and fresh fruit are also offered. Healthy items continuing in the salad bar include: dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, hard boiled eggs, diced tomatoes, sesame and wheat crackers, and fat free Italian dressing.

For breakfast, fresh fruit is offered with 100% juice, low sugar-whole grain cereals, and the menu item of the day.

The usual lunch menu is being analyzed by the Nutrition Analysis Program (Meal Magic, paid for by the SHIP mini-grant) to see where improvements need to be made. Students are offered two different types of fruits or vegetables on occasional days and the Kitchen Staff plan to offer healthier dessert options. Be watching for some nutrition facts to be included on the lunch menus!

Last school-year the kitchen tried some taste testing for the high school students and are adding the foods to the menu. These include: corn bread, honey glazed carrots, chicken ranch wraps, whole grain pizza, pumpkin chili, and apple-cucumber salad. Taste testing will continue one to two times per month through the rest of the school year.

Here is some home-made chili!

Becky has received a list of local produce offerings from Apperts, the school food distributor, some of which the kitchen is using. Also provided was a list of Minnesota produced products, of which, the kitchen uses quite a few. Becky will be attending the Appert’s Food Show in October to look for more local and healthy food options.

Here is a picture some farm-cafeteria green beans being prepared for lunch!

Way to go Kitchen Staff!

First Meeting of the 2010-2011 School Year

The first ML School Wellness Committee Meeting will be Thursday, August 19th, from 3:45-4:45pm at the school in the board room.

We will discuss how to move forward this school year with some beneficial nutrition interventions, as well as how to incorporate our findings from certain interventions last year with policy systems and environmental change.

The Wellness Committee is open to parents, teachers, students, interested community members, school staff, etc. Please feel free to join us!

Jamie Oliver!

Moose Lake School Health Snack Cart makes it on Jamie Oliver's Website!

The article can be found at the following link:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/news/rolling-out-nutrition-at-moose-lake-scho

How exciting for this program to be recognized on an international website! If you have not seen Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, you can read more about it at:
http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution

Enjoy!

Review of School Wellness Activities (2009-2010)

Review:
The school wellness committee has accomplished quite a lot this school year.
- Completed the School Health Index Assessment (concerning nutrition)
- Brainstormed and compiled ideas into an action plan
- Began action plan activities!

Healthy Snack Cart
The Health Snack Cart went over VERY well with students, teachers, administration, and parents. Evaluations were compiled, and based on the positive responses, a policy is in the works for the snack cart for next school year.

Taste Testing in the Cafeteria
Head Cook, Becky Holt, and her staff had a very busy spring with nutrition activities. Becky and the Administration went above and beyond to make the taste testing successful. Items were: Chicken Wrap, a BBQ Turkey on a whole wheat bun, Whole Wheat Pizza, Cheesy Cornbread, and Apple-Cucumber Salad. Taste testing will continue next school year, and based on results, items will be added into the lunch menu.


Also...
Safe Routes to School Webinar
Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/264447777

The Webinar will talk about three recent grant recipients of the National Center for Safe Routes to School mini-grant program (One being from MN!). It will talk about the opportunity for mini-grants, and how the mini-grants have helped these communities.

Since Moose Lake School will possibly be pursuing a Safe Routes to School plan in the future, and this would be a beneficial webinar for anyone interested!


NEXT MEETING:
Thursday, August 19th
3:45-4:45
Moose Lake School Board Room

The Elementary School is in the midst of a healthy snack cart pilot supported by the school Wellness Committee and funded by the SHIP grant. The snack cart will be available for grades K-6 from May 10-28.

The purpose of the snack cart is to provide healthy snacking options to elementary school students. Feedback will be taken from students, teachers, parents, administration, and the wellness committee to decide whether to continue with this initiative next school year.

If the snack cart continues to the 2010-2011 school year, parents will pay about 22 cents/day per student for a healthy snack. What a great and affordable option for busy families aiming to be healthy!

Meeting Thursday, May 6th

The Moose Lake School Wellness Committee will be meeting on Thursday, May 6th, from 3:45-4:45 in the board room at the school. Please attend if interested--anyone is invited!

We will be discussing:
     - The elementary healthy snack cart pilot
     - Cafeteria taste-testing
     - Other upcoming summer and fall activites

See you Thursday!

News!

The school has been a recipient of a Safe Routes to School Assessment Grant! The school will be working with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) to assess the positives and negatives for students walking and biking to class. ARDC will compete this assessment by June of this year. After the assessment, they will provide recommendations, which, at that point, the school would be ready to apply for an implementation grant allowing them to implement those recommendations.

ALSO...
There is an upcoming webinar that looks to be very interesting and potentially beneficial to the school community regarding Safe Routes to School:

Free Webinar April 27th, 12-1pm
Environmental Measures for Safe Routes to School: Understanding the Basics of Air Pollution

You can read more details and register at the following website:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/355203048

Welcome!

Welcome to Moose Lake School's Wellness Committee Blog. The Committee has recently completed the School Health Assessment, and from it has created an action plan. The Committee is currently focused on the 'nutrition' aspect of wellness in correlation with the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Grant. Carlton County received this grant from the Minnesota Department of Health and has selected ten communities in NE MN to carry out the interventions.

Moose Lake School is a site for the SHIP Grant activities. If you are interested in becoming involved or would like more information, please contact the SHIP Grant Coordinator, Meghann Condit, at 218-878-2846, or at meghann.condit@co.carlton.mn.us.

The goals of the action plan are as follows:
1) The Moose Lake School Wellness Committee will work to maintian an active coalition of committee participants (School Administration, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students, Community Members, etc.).
2) The Moose Lake Wellness Committee will work to improve the school lunch.
3) The Moose Lake School Wellness Committee will foster an increase in collaboration between the Cooking Staff and other Teachers and Staff.
4) The Moose Lake School Wellness Committee will explore the option of a school garden.
5) The Moose Lake Wellness Committee will work with teachers and parents to improve classroom snacks.

Update on Activities:
     - The action plan was presented to the School Board in March and will be approved at the next meeting in April.
     - The committee is applying for a mini-grant from SHIP on April 15th.
     - Some of the priorities include, but are not limited to: a Nutrition Analysis Program, a Healthy Snack Policy, a School Garden, and working on kitchen--classroom collaboration.

Be watching for some of the great initiatives the Wellness Committee is working on to improve your children's health, and ultimately reduce the occurance of childhood obesity in Moose Lake!